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Genus Ipimorpha

Moth at porch light - Ipimorpha pleonectusa

Ipimorpha pleonectusa pleonectusa - Ipimorpha pleonectusa

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Noctuoidea (Owlet Moths and kin)

Family Noctuidae (Owlet Moths)

Subfamily Noctuinae (Cutworm or Dart Moths)

Tribe Xylenini

Subtribe Cosmiina

Genus Ipimorpha

Numbers

5 species in North America (nearctica.com)

4 species in Canada (CBIF)

only 1 species in the east [I. pleonectusa]

Size

wingspan 30-35 mm

Identification

forewing pale yellowish to medium brown; AM and PM lines prominent, fairly straight; AM line oblique; reniform, orbicular, claviform spots usually distinct and with thin pale outlines; claviform spot flattened basally where it connects to AM line

Range

Yukon and British Columbia to Newfoundland, south in the east to Maryland and Kentucky, south in the west to California

all species are present in the west; only one (I. pleonectusa) extends its range to the east

also represented in Eurasia

Season

adults fly from July to September

Food

larvae feed on leaves of Populus spp. (poplar) and willow

Internet References

pinned adult images of 4 of the 5 species in North America (CBIF)

classification and links to images of species in Eurasia and North America (Markku Savela, FUNET)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 28 November, 2005 - 9:54am
Last updated 28 November, 2005 - 3:02pm

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